Partnership Between Essilor and Waterloo's School of Optometry
Essilor Canada, in conjunction with the University of Waterloo and the School of Optometry, announced a new partnership that will help enhance optometric education and further advance eye health and care in Canada.
Through a five-year investment of $250,000, Essilor will help support the School of Optometry’s $8 million clinic transformation campaign that will create a state-of-the-art clinic for patient eyecare and for optometry student training.
“We are very appreciative of Essilor’s commitment to enhancing eyecare through optometric education. Their generous support of our clinic renovation project will help us develop the best clinical teaching facilities to train Canada’s future optometrists,” says Interim Director Dr. Marlee Spafford.
Essilor Canada President Marc Tersigni emphasized, “We are pleased to support this partnership between an ophthalmic lens manufacturer and the Waterloo School of Optometry. Our gift to the School is totally in line with our corporate mission, which is to enable as many people as possible to see the world better.”
In addition to this philanthropic gift Essilor, Scotiabank, Gowlings and KPMG have just partnered with Waterloo Optometry to deliver a weekend educational program, titled “First Practice Management”. This initiative has been designed to help optometry students and new optometrists better understand their career options when considering the delivery of eyecare to their patients.
The Waterloo School of Optometry is Canada's only English-speaking optometric training institution. After completing at least three years of university study, students enrol in a four-year program leading to a professional degree — Doctor of Optometry. An extensive clinic program provides practical experience for students and health services for the public. The School's faculty members engage in innovative research in vision science and optometry. Waterloo is also home to the largest graduate program in vision science at a school of optometry in North America.
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